Features
The Traxxas Jato stadium truck is full of unique and innovative features. From its integrated receiver pack charging jack to the huge GTR Revo-style oil-filled shocks and massive suspension travel, the Jato is unlike any other 2WD truck on the market. A full set of steel hex-head screws eliminates pesky Phillips head screws, and Revo-style sealed slider driveshafts eliminate backlash while reducing rotating mass to provide increased acceleration. As expected, the Jato also includes a full set of rubber-sealed ball bearings, a fiber brake disc, and a trick-looking pre-painted and trimmed body.

GEAR DIFF & 2-SPEED TRANNY
We've waited a long time to see a 1/10-scale stadium truck with a sealed gear differential, and it's finally here. The Jato's sealed diff is completely tunable with silicone shock oil (it comes filled with 30 wt. oil), which means you'll never have to replace tiny carbide balls, rings, or thrust bearings ever again. Accessing the diff is a snap by removing four screws and pulling the front of the bulkhead away (i.e., 1/8-scale buggy style). The integrated 2-speed transmission is also another first in the 1/10-scale stadium truck market, allowing the Jato to hit a claimed top speed of 55 mph!

BELLCRANK STEERING
The Jato's dual bellcrank apparatus isn't your typical steering system. The steering servo mounts upside down, with a captured rod-end linkage connecting the servo output shaft arm to the bellcranks. An adjustable spring-loaded servo saver pokes up on the driver's side, with a large nylon locknut used to hold the settings. Traxxas claims that the CAD-designed steering system produces zero bump steer, which eliminates toe-in/toe-out changes as the suspension compresses.

CHASSIS DIRT GUARDS
Taking a page from the 1/8-scale buggy design book, the Jato includes black plastic chassis side guards, which can be removed if you wish. The guards extend to touch the sides of the body, creating a decent barrier of protection between the chassis electronics and track debris. You may not see these guards used for racing, but they're a cool option that simply looks dialed compared to a plain flat chassis.

INSTRUCTIONS & SETUP
Although Traxxas was still developing the Jato's instruction book/DVD and supplemental materials at press time, I did receive a PDF version of the manual. As usual, Traxxas filled the manual with clear, full-color CAD diagrams and plenty of tuning tips. If the final version is anything like the Revo's, the Jato's instructions will be top notch.
The Jato's stock "Victory" tires and wheel set look trick, but aren't the hot set up for most race tracks. You'll need to pick up a set of Traxxas' old-school dished wheels (part #1974 for the front, #1972 for the rear) to mount standard 2.2" tires. I mounted a set of Team Losi Red-compound Step-Pin tires and front Directionals before hitting the track, although the hot tire at your track may vary.

DUAL RECEIVER BATTERY BOX
It's not often that you find a stadium truck with loads of extra room on the chassis, but the Jato makes use of 100% of its chassis space by offering a second on-board receiver battery box. The Jato arrives with its 5-cell receiver pack installed in a traditional tail-mounted battery box, but you have the option of installing it in the chassis-mounted battery box to alter the truck's balance.

CAPTURED ROD ENDS
If you've driven a 1/10-scale stadium truck before, you know that in general, a 1/10-scale truck's Achilles heel comes in the form of the pop-happy ball ends on its suspension links. To prevent DNF's and spoiled bashing time, the Jato uses captured rod ends (or "double sheer connections" according to Traxxas) on all of its camber links. Although these rod ends will transfer impacts and forces elsewhere, the Jato's sturdy design should shrug off all but the most horrible of crashes all while allowing the truck to keep going without unnecessary downtime.

Testing
If you read XRC regularly, you know the drill. I broke in the Jato in our parking lot, using a heat-cycle method to heat and cool the engine until I was pleased with its performance and feel. After clocking the Jato's acceleration and top speed for our radar runs using the stock kit tires, I headed out to Revelation Raceway (www.revrace.org) with a fresh set of Losi Step-Pin rear tires.

Acceleration and Speed - The Jato's power to weight ratio is off the chart, similar to that of a small go kart with a 500ci V8. It should come as no surprise that a deep pull of the throttle brings on massive wheelspin on all but the most grippy asphalt surface, and the Jato shoots away in a fashion that's true to its name. As the Jato approaches typical 1/10-stadium truck speeds, you'll hear the 2-speed tranny's second gear snap into engagement and the truck continues its forward momentum like a lightning bolt. Keep your finger in the throttle just a little longer, and you'll find your Jato igniting the earth at 50 mph, as we did on our radar gun. A truck this fast is absurd, in all the right ways. If you're out looking to drag race 1/10 trucks for pink slips, there is no other option; the Jato rules the neighborhood. The only thing limiting the Jato's acceleration is the available traction.
Rating: 10/10

Braking - The Jato's brakes are more than strong enough to lock the rear wheels at nearly any speed. On the dirt, I dialed in enough brake power to nearly lock the wheels at full brake, in order to prevent sliding and looping out on slick surfaces. I didn't notice any fade during repeated runs, and the included fiber disk wore well and didn't show any sings of premature wear.
Rating: 9

Low-Speed Handling - At low speeds, the Jato cuts tight lines through tight sweepers and switchbacks. Although some 2wd trucks are known for pushing, when given proper traction the Jato steers with a neutral feel and carves up corners. Low speed bumps and rhythm sections are no problem for the Jato, nor is there a lack of low-end grunt for quick blips up jump faces and small tabletops. Unfortunately, however, on dry surfaces the Jato's nose-heavy chassis loses rear traction and spins out easily. If you're bashing, you won't mind, but if you race, you'll want more rear traction.
Rating: 8

High-Speed Handling - The Jato's ability to break local speed limits places a premium on high-speed handling ability, and the truck doesn't disappoint. On asphalt during our speed runs, the Jato feels incredibly stable--so much so, I could almost turn the front wheels full lock at full speed and make gradual turns without looping the truck out. On dirt, it's a different story as once again the focus becomes rear traction when the dirt dries out. Racers will want to lighten the front end as much as possible, and get weight over the rear tires to eliminate the Jato's tail-happy nature. The Jato is primarily about having fun though, and when you hear the tranny snap into second gear, any concerns about on-track rear traction disappear rather quickly.
Rating: 8

Rough-Track Handling - For the two days I ran the Jato at Revelation, the track was highly rutted and provided a great test for the truck's rough-track handling capabilities. The pre-installed 30-weight shock oil gives the truck a slightly mushy, soft feel but I tested the truck in box-stock form, and it handled rutted sections well. Like most 2wd stadium trucks, the Jato handles best when you carry speed through rutted sections and skim the tops of the bumps rather than drive through them. Stability can become compromised in dry sections when traction is low, but overall the Jato's deep suspension travel and chassis balance keeps the truck stable.
Rating: 9

Wrenching
Maintenance - Wrenching on the Jato makes me think of wrenching on a 1/8-scale buggy, especially when accessing the rear differential. The rear bulkhead's back half comes loose with only 6 screws (after removing the 4 battery box screws), and slides away to expose the rear diff for easy maintenance. The truck's full set of hex-head screws is a welcome addition as well, eliminating strip-prone Phillips head screws. Maintaining the Jato should be easy, due to the simple to fill shocks, sealed driveshafts, and rubber sealed ball bearings.
Rating: 9

Wear and Tear - The Jato shows little wear from several weekends of abuse. I managed to scrape off nearly all of the chassis underside anodizing during testing, but the chassis itself shows no signs of bends or fractures. And although a ball diff is a 1/10 truck's maintenance related "achilles heel," the Jato's silicone-filled gear diff should be maintenance free for weeks and weeks at a time with no rebuilds required. If there's a single item that bashers should love due to its low-maintenance nature, the Jato's gear diff is it. A 3-shoe slipper clutch keeps the entire tranny safe from jolts and gear breaking impacts.
Rating: 10

Tuning - All of the standard tuning adjustments racers expect are found on the Jato. Adjustable turnbuckles allow you to dial in camber and toe-in, while clearly marked plastic anti-squat plates adjust rear anti-squat. The rear diff's action, as previously mentioned, is tunable with silicone oil--Traxxas reps say the diff works best using shock oil in weights ranging from 30wt-60wt--and can even be partially filled with thick grease for a completely maintenance free diff. Unlike most 1/10 trucks, the Jato even includes 5 different roll center adjustments to alter the truck's roll stiffness and traction.
Rating: 10

Conclusion
The Jato is that rare vehicle that appeals to bashers and racers alike, given its speed, acceleration and on-track performance. Bashers will love blasting across parking lots at 50 mph, while racers will appreciate the Jato's tunability and advanced suspension design. As a racer, I tend to evaluate a vehicle from a racer's perspective, but the Jato's true calling will be with casual racers and die-hard bashers who simply want to go fast in a pre-built, innovative truck that stands out from the crowd. And although we may never see a Jato on the podium at the Nationals, don't blame that on the truck's capabilities (or lack of).
Although Traxxas had yet to set a retail or street price at our publishing time, we expect the Jato's pricing to be competitive with its competition. Whether high caliber wins occur or not, one thing is undeniable: the Jato's overpowered, 2-speed, 50 mph capabilities will appeal to the basher and the racer in all of us.